Would That I

Chapter 2

Talion's POV

I couldn't stop my body before I did it.

I sprang into action, rushing forward right to the cliff that Neteyam and the black ikran had just fallen off. I felt my body burning, that scratching feeling inside me worsening, though this deterred me none. Before Jake or Neytiri could stop me, or my own body could stop me...I jumped.

Neteyam's POV

I let go of the ikran's neck out of panic, looking down and seeing the forest below starting to grow closer. The ikran got ahold of itself and started to fly, and to my misfortune, away from me.

I felt panic growing in me; is this how I go? Am I going to die trying to get my first ikran?

I could hardly breathe from how fast I fell, the wind feeling like needles in my skin. Though it was hopeless, I tried to make sense of myself and figure something out. That ground is only getting closer.

Right before I could give up entirely, I heard something that reignited that diminishing hope in me.

A roar, a loud one, and it was close.

I managed to get ahold of myself enough to turn my head, and that's when I saw it. It was a blue ikran with black markings, diving right next to me, just close enough for me to grab onto, and I did just that.

I reached over, hooking my head onto its neck, my other hand going to my braid, quickly preparing my queue. I managed to heave myself onto it, quickly holding on with my legs, freeing up my other hand to grab its queue.

I had no hesitation, putting my queue near the ikran's, them intertwining, causing the ikran to let out a loud roar. I felt a warmth flood through me before I felt like I had electricity pulsing through every nerve in my body.

"Fly!" I shouted, the ikran getting ahold of itself and leveling out.

I can't believe it; I've done it and tamed an ikran!

I closed my eyes, feeling the ikran...hm, odd, something feels familiar about it, though I'm not sure what. I could feel its powerful breaths, the wingbeats as it effortlessly flew through the sky.

I opened my eyes, sighing with relief and utter excitement, turning, and looking up before guiding the ikran back toward where I'd fallen.

"Up!" I directed the ikran, and it immediately went up and gained altitude, "Turn around!" I instructed, it listening and doing so.

Jake's POV

(A few moments after Talion jumped off)

What was that? Both Neytiri and I had rushed to the ledge to look over and see what would become of our two sons, and we then watched our oldest morph into an ikran.

I looked at Neytiri, who looked at me, obviously just as shocked as I was. We then looked back down and watched Neteyam reach Talion, connecting their queues.

What does this mean? Will Talion be stuck as an ikran? If not, does that make them two bonded now?

Before I could ponder it more, Neteyam had managed to turn around and was coming back to where Neytiri and I were; Talion let out a loud roar as he and Neteyam flew in front of us, going upwards. Right as they'd passed us, Neteyam directed him back down to land, Talion landing in front of us smoothly.

Once Talion was on the ground, Neteyam was all smiles, panting for air, getting off Talion and disconnecting their queues, "I did it, Father, Mother!"

Though at that moment we were proud, shock overcame that.

Neteyam then looked around, confusion overtaking his features, "Where-" He gulped thickly, still out of breath and ecstatic, "-where's Talion?" He looked around, "Did he find an ikran already?" He then looked back at Neytiri and me, unsure what to do or say.

"Neteyam-" I spoke up, not sure how to word this, his ears flicking at his name,

"-that is Talion."